Valentina Shevchenko is confident with her prediction for the UFC 223 women’s strawweight title fight between Rose Namajunas and Joanna Jedrzejczyk on April 7.
For many, it was a surprise when Joanna Jędrzejczyk lost her strawweight title to Rose Namajunas at UFC 217 on November 4, 2017. A rematch has recently been officially announced, and the ladies will face the UFC Octagon again on April 7 at UFC 223 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Will Joanna Jędrzejczyk manage to regain her belt? Valentina Shevchenko a former Polish rival from Muay Thai, sincerely doubts it.
Shevchenko recently told MMA Fighting:
“I do not think it will be a different result,”
“Of course, it will be different because Joanna will prepare herself stronger, but at the same time, Rose will prepare stronger as well. I expect it to be a very hard fight, but I think the result will be the same.”
Shevchenko is without a doubt one of the most skilled female fighters on the planet and interesting enough, owns three wins over Joanna Jędrzejczyk from their days on the muay-thai circuit. On being asked, if she felt Jedrzejczyk improved from any of the losses that she gave her.
“In every fight any fighter has, they learn from the experiences that they have. Joanna is a very good fighter and she is very strong and she showed that to everyone by being champion for a few years. This is Rose’s time now. I really think she will be a very good champion at strawweight for a long time,” she said.
During a recent appearance at the Podcast Joe Rogan Experience, Rose Namajunas praises Valentina that training with Shevchenko was one of the best things before claiming a title. Not only that, Valentina Shevchenko also learned during this whole process and admired Thug Rose and Pat Barry a true “true martial artists”.
“I feel very happy that it was so good for both us and it was glad to be a part of that victory. Not only am I happy, but my coaches and my sisters are so happy that Rose is champion because we tried to help as much as we could,” she said.
“They are very good people; true martial artists. Like me, Rose started martial arts at a very young age. When you are doing something for a long time and you’re moving towards your goal, and then you gain it, it’s the best feeling in the world.”
Do you agree with Valentina Shevchenko’s prediction about Namajunas?
